Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London on April 21, 1926 as daughter of King George VI. She was educated by private tutors at Buckingham Palace and served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II. In 1947, she married her beau, the dashing Lieutenant Philip Moundbatten, who shortly before the wedding ceremony had been made Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1952, the couple was on a good-will trip to Kenya when the 56-year old George VI suddenly died after a day of good hunting. Elizabeth was crowned ΓÇ£Queen of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Head of the Common ealthΓÇ¥ in a glamorous ceremony.
During her reign, Elizabeth continued the decolonization process begun by her father, with former British Crown Colonies becoming independent members of the British Commonwealth. She and Philip had four children: Crown Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Celebrating her 70th anniversary in 1996, the Queen still did not publicly divulge any plans to yield the throne to her son Charles, Prince of Wales.
